Shoe-pressing machine



June 18, 1929. .F. a. KEALYL SHOE PRESSING MACHINE Filed May 26; 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 18, 1929. F. B. KE ALL SHOE PRESSING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 |NVENTUR Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,717,387 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BYCROFT KEALL, or LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR ro uNirEn si'roE MA- cnrNEEY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A conroEA'rroN on NEW JERSEY.

SHOE-PRESSIN'G MACHINE.

Application filed May 26, 1928, Serial No. 280,921, and in Great Britain June 9, 1927.

This invention relates to machines for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes, and more particularly to means for supporting the shoes in the pressureapplying operation. The invention is herein illustrated as applied to a leveling machine of the so-called direct pressure type such as shown, for example, in United States Letters Patent No. 1,275,562 granted on August 13, 1918 upon an application of A. E. J erram and J. Gouldbourn. It is to beflunderstood, however, that the invention in some of its aspects is not limited to machines of that type, but is generally applicable to various kinds of shoe-pressing machines including machines for laying soles.

Machines of the above-mentioned type have been generally used heretofore to level the soles of shoes mounted on metal forms or lasts. In order to'adaptsuch machines to operate upon shoes on wooden lasts, it is necessary to provide shoe supporting means such as to insure against breaking the last, especially if the last is a two-part last, for example of the hinge type. Accordingly, by an invention disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,690,197, granted on November 6, 1928 upon an application of A. E. Headley, there was provided, in combination with supports for the toe and heel ends of a shoe and its last, additional supporting means comprising members arranged to engage the opposite sides of the shoe between its toe and heel end portions and ad justable manually toward or from each other to conform to the shape of the shoe.

An object of the present invention, in one of its important aspects, is to provide means for properly supporting each shoe without the necessity for manual adjustment such, for

eXample,-as that above mentioned. For the purposes in view, the machine herein shown is, accordingly, provided with novel means arranged to be positioned automatically in proper relation to the shoe for supporting it between its toe and heel end portions against the sole-shaping pressure applied on its bottom 't'ace. More particularly, the organization illustrated comprises means whereby supplemental supportingmembers arranged to engage the shoe on its opposite sides in the region of the instep portion of the last are each moved into engagement with the shoe in proper relation to the shoe in response to the pressure applied on the bottom of the shoe. Insurance is thus afforded that such members will be properly positioned in relation to each shoe without attention on the part of the operator. In order that the shoe shall be firmly supported, there is further provided automatic means for locking the supporting members agamst movement in directions away from the shoe, the construction shown comprising a single pawl and ratchet device for controlling both members. The novel features of the invention, including various details of construction and com-, blnations of parts, will now be more particularly-described by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, with parts in section, showing a portion of a ma chine 1n which the invention isembo'died and Fig.2 shows substantially the same portion of the machine, partly in section and partly in elevation, as viewed in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1.

Similarly to the disclosure of the above-' mentioned Letters Patent No. 1,690,197, the lllustrated machine, is provided with. a shoe support comprising a member ion which are adj ustably mounted a forepart or toe end supporting member 6 and a heel end supportlng'memloer 8, the member 4; having a cylindrical shank-10 which is mounted for limited downward and upward movement in a carmar 12, as more fully disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,275,562. Leveling pressure is applied to the bottom of the shoe in the power operation of the machine by means of aleveling form 14. It will be understood that at the beginning of the pressureapplying operation the shoev support receives a short downward movement relatively tothe'carrier 12 in response to the pressure on the bottom'of the shoe, after which further downward movement of the support is prevented while the full leveling pressure is applied, all as disclosed in said last-mentioned Letters Patent.

Also, in general similarity to the organization shown in Letters Patent N 0. 1,690,197, the machine is provided with additional members for supporting the shoe between its opposite ends in the region of the instep portion of the last by clamping engagement with the opposite sides of the shoe. For purposes of this invention these members comprise a pair of rubber pads 16 mounted on holders 18 which are, in turn, mounted on ball-shaped portions ofbell-crank levers comprising upwardly extending arms 22 and laterally extending arms 24. Each holder 18 is held against the ball-shaped portion 20 of its arm 22 by a spring 26 connected at one end to a stud 28 fixed in the holder and connected at its other end to a pin 30 bearing against the arm 22. Each pad 16 with its holder 18 is thus permitted to swivel on the ball-shaped bearing 20 to accommodate itself to the contour of the shoe.

The bell-crank levers 22, 24 are pivoted on studs 32 fixed in brackets 34 which are mounted on the heel end supporting member 8, this member being adjustable as heretofore along a guideway 36 on the member 4. The studs 32 extend lengthwise of the shoe and are substantially parallel to the guideway 36. The arms 24 of the bell-crank levers extend outward substantially at right angles tothe arms I 22 and are considerably shorter than the arms 22. Each arm 24 is connected by a link 38 to the upper end of a rod 40 which is clamped in the upper end of a member 42. The member 42 extends downwardly and is slidably mounted on a rod 44 in axial alignment with the rod 40. The rod 44 has thereon a coil spring 46 which bears at its upper end against a collar 48 fast on the rod and at its lower end against the member 42. The spring 46 thus tends to move the member 42 clownwardly and through theconnection to the bell-crank levers 22, 24 to swing the pad 16 outwardly away from the shoe. Downward movement of the member 42 under the influence of the spring 46 is limited by an enlarged head 50 of the rod 44, there being a fiber washer 52 interposed between the head 50 and the lower end of the member 42.

The head 50 of each rod 44 has on its lower end a ball-shaped portion 54 which is mounted in a recess in the upper end of a plunger 56 slidingly mounted in a bracket 58 fixed to the carrier 12. The plunger 56 is urged upwardly by a strong spring 60 in the bracket 58 and is prevented from rotating by a screw 62 which is threaded in the bracket and extends into a groove 64 formed in the plunger. Upward movement of the plunger 56 under the influence of the spring 60 is adj ustably limited by a screw 66 which engages the top of the plunger and is mounted in an arm 68 projecting from the bracket 58.

It will thus be seen that when the shoe support is depressed relatively to the carrier 12 at the beginning of thepressure-applying operation, as hereinbefore described, the bell-crank levers 22, 24 are carried downwardly with it "and in response to such downward movement are swung about their pivots 32 by reason of their connections to the spring plungers 56, until the pads 16 contact with the'sides of the shoe and adjust themselves to the contour of the shoe. Thereafter, in the further downward movement of the shoe support, the springs 60 are compressed and the pads are pressed hard against the shoe. Since the different pads are thus forced against the shoe through separate spring connections, it will be evident that movement of neither pad toward the shoe is limited by engagement of the other pad with the shoe, and consequently both pads will be properly seated against the shoe.

The pads 16, after they have been seated firmly against the shoe as above described, are locked in supporting engagement with the shoe by means of a pawl 70 and a ratchet wheel 72. Each lever arm 22 has rotatably mounted therein about midway of its length a short shaft 74 parallel to the corresponding pivot stud 32. Passing transversely through the two shafts 74 and therefore across and below the shoe is a shaft 7 6 on which the ratchet whecl72 is secured. The shaft 76 at one end has on it a thread 78 of coarse pitch which engages a corresponding thread in one of the short shafts 7 4. The other end of the shaft 76 is rotatably mounted in the other short shaft 74 and has on it ball thrust bearings 80, 82 at the opposite sides of this shaft 74, so that the shaft '26 is moved lengthwise by one of the arms 22. The ratchet wheel 7 2 is fixed on the shaft 7 6 close to the outer thrust bearing 82, and the shaft outside of the ratchet wheelhas loosely mounted thereon a pawl-carrying member 84. This member is so mounted as to cause it to move with the shaft- 76, as the shaft moves lengthwise, by reason of its engagement with the ratchet wheel 72 at one side and with a collar 86 fixed to the shaft at the other side. The pawl-carrying member 84 extends downwardly and its lower end is guided in a bracket 88 fixed to the heel end support 8, this bracket having a guideway 90 parallel to the shaft 76. The pawl 70 is pivoted on the member 84 and projects beneath the ratchet wheel 72, the pawl being urged into engagement with the ratchet wheel by a spring 92 7 It will be understood that, as the shoe-supporting pads 16 are moved, as hereinabove described, toward each other and into engagement with the shoe, the ratchet wheel shaft 7 6 is rotated in response to the movement of each of the pad-carrying arms 22, by reason of its threaded engagement with one of the short shafts 74, and the teeth on the ratchet wheel are so arranged that when the pawl 70 is in engagement with the teeth rotationof the shaft 76 in the opposite direction and separation of the pads 16 is prevented. For further controlling thepawl to permit separation of the pads after the operations on a shoe have been completed, the paw. has project-ing laterally from it a pin 94 over which extends a projection 96 from a pawl-controlling lever 98 pivoted on the short arm 24 of one of the bell-crank levers, on the same pivot as the link 38 hereinbefore mentioned.

The pawl-controlling lever 98 has formed on it a hook 100 over which extends the hooked upper end of a rod 102 the lower end of which is connect-ed to the head of one of the rods 14.

' lVhen the shoe support is in shoe-receiving position, the shoe-supporting pads 16 are in their open or separated positions and the pawl 7 0 is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel by the action oi the lever 98 and the rod 102. As the shoeand its support are pressed down at the beginning of the pressure-applying operation of the form 1 1, the supporting pads 16 are moved yieldingly into engagement with the shoe in response to the downward movement of the shoe support, as hereinabove described. In the first part ofthis movement of the pads toward the shoe the pawl 7 0 is released by the pawl-controlling lever 98 to permit it to engage the ratchet wheel 72, by reason of the .t'act that in the downward movement of the shoe support the lever 98 is released by the rod 102 and the spring 92 is thus permitted to swing the pawl into engagement with the wheel. After either of the pads 16 has been moved into engagement with the shoe, further downward movement of the shoe support causes the corresponding, plunger 56 to be depressed to force the pad against the shoe under strong pressure. The pads are positively locked against outward or separating movement by the ratchet wheel 7 2 and the pawl 7 O, and thus prevent the last from being bent or broken during the application of the heavy leveling pressure to the shoe. If during the leveling movements a strain comes at any time upon either positively held pad which unduly compresses it and tends to give it a set in compressed condition, the pad will, as soon as the strain is relieved, yieldingly follow up the shoe and engage the latter in a new position in which it is again positively locked against movement away from the shoe. The degree of this accommodation is dependent upon the spacing of the ratchet teeth which may be made as fine as practicable.

When the leveling pressure is relieved and the shoe support is moved upwardly, the pawl remains in engagement with the rati'het teeth and accordingly holds the pads '16 locked in shoe-supporting position until near the end of the upward movement and until after the plungers 56 have risen into engagement with their limit stops 66. During the continued upward movement of the shoe support after the plungers have engaged the stops, the springs 16 are compressed and a relative separation occurs between the lower ends of the members 12 and the heads 50 of the rods 14. Near the end of the upward movement of the shoe support the pawl-controlling lever 98 is swung about its pivot by reason of its connection through the rod 102 to the head 50 which is then stationary, so

that by engagement of the member 98 with the pin 94: on the pawl 70 the pawl is forced out of engagement with the ratchetwheel. The'springs 46 are then permitted to act to swing the bell-crank levers 22, 24: outwardly and thus to return the pads 16 to starting position.

lVhil'e the invention is herein illustrated in its application to anorganization in which the pads 16 are provided in addition to means supporting the shoe at its opposite ends, itis to be understood that in some of its aspects the invention is not limited to an organization of this particular character.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying soleshaping pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for engaging the work initially to support it against said pressure, of additional means automatically movable into engagement with the work to support it against said pressure while it is engaged by said first-named supporting means.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with power-operated means for applying sole-shaping pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for engaging the work initially to support it against said pressure, of additional means automatically movable into engagement with the work to support it against said pressure after the starting of the power operation of the machine.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for supporting the work initially for the pressure-applying operation, of additional supporting means auton'iatically movable into engagement with the work in respouse to the application of pressure to the bottom of the shoe.

a. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying soleshaping pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means tor engaging the work initially to support it against said pressure, of additional means for supporting the work against said pressure comprising members automatically movable into engagement with the shoe at its opposite sides 5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the toe and heel ends, of additional means for supporting the work against said pressure between its toe and heel end portions, saidaddition'al means being automatically movable into engagement with the work.

6. In a machine of the class described, the

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combination with power-operated means for applying pressure to the bottom ot a shoe on a last, and means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the toe and heel ends, of adidtional means for supporting the work against said pressure between its toe and heel end portions, said additional means being automatically movable into supporting position in the power operation of the machine. 7

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means forsupporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the toe and heel ends, of additional means for supporting the work against said pressure between its toe and heel end portions comprising members arranged to engage the shoe at its opposite sides and relatively movable automatically widthwise of the shoe to positions determined by the shoe.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pres sure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for supporting the shoe and lastagainst said pressure at the toe and heel ends, of additional means for supporting the work against said pressure between its toe and heel end portions comprising mem bers arranged to engage the shoe at its opposite sides and relatively movable. bodily widthwise of the shoe into shoe-supporting position in response to the application of pressure to the bottom of the shoe.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the toe and heel ends, of additional meansi or supporting the work against said pressure between its too and heel end portions, said additional means comprising members arranged to engage the shoe at opposite sides in the region of the instep portion of the last and movable toward and from each other, and automatic means for moving said members into shoe-supporting position.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the too and heel ends, of additional means tor supporting the work against said pressure between its too and heel end portions, said additional means comprising members arranged to engage the shoe atits opposite sides in the region of the instep portion of the last and movable toward and from each other, and automatic means for moving said members into shoesupporting position comprising connections constructed to move each member to a position determined by the shoe irrespective of the extent of the movement of the other member.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom oi: a shoe on a last,

and means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the toe and heel ends, of additional means for supporting the work against said pressure between its toe and heel end portions, said additional means comprising members arranged to engage the shoe at its opposite sides and movable toward and from each other, and means automatic-ally operative in response to the application of pressure to the bottom of the shoe to move each of said members to a position determined by the shoe irrespective of the extent of the movement of the other member.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the toe and heel ends, of additional means for supporting the work against said pressure between its too and heel end portions, said additional means comprising members arranged to engage the shoe at its opposite sides and movable toward and from each other, and separate spring mechanisms associated with the different respective members for forcing them yieldingly against the shoe in the operation of the machine.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying sole-shaping pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, of means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure comprising members arranged to engage the shoe at its opposite sides and automatically movable into engagement with the shoe in the pressure-applying operation.

1t. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying sole-shaping pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, of means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure comprising members arranged to engage the shoe at its opposite sides in the region of the instep por tion of the last, and automatic means for moving said members to positions determined. by the shoe.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the toe and heel ends, of additional means for supporting the work against said pressure between its toe and heel.

end portions, said additional means comprising members arranged to engage the shoe at its opposite sides and movable toward and from each other, and automatic means for moving said members into engagement with Til 1,717,:ssv

the shoe and forthen against the shoe.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and a shoe support depressible with the shoe in response to the application of said pressure, of means carried by said shoe support for supplementally supporting the work, said supplemental means being automatically movable toward the work to a position determined by the work in response to the depression of the shoe support.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and a shoe support depressible with the shoe in response to the application of said pressure, of members carried by the shoe support for supplementally engaging and supporting the shoe at its opposite sides, and means operative in response to the depression of the shoe support to force said members against the shoe.

18; In a machine of the class described, the combination withmeans for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and a shoe support depressible with the shoe in response to the application of said pressure, of levers mounted on the shoe support for pressing them firmly swinging movements laterally of the shoe and having thereon means for supplementally engaging and supporting the shoe at its opposite sides, and spring mechanisms arranged to act on said levers in response to the depression of the shoe support to force said members yieldingly against the shoe.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination. with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and a shoe support depressible with the shoe! in response to the application of said pressure and having means for supporting the shoe at its toe and heel ends, of members carried by the shoe support for supplementally engaging and supporting the opposite sides of the shoe between its toe and heel end portions, and means operative in response to the depression of the shoe support, to force said members yieldingly against the shoe comprising connections constructed to move each member to a position determined by the shoe irrespective of the extent of the movement of the other member.

20. In a direct pressure leveling machine, the combination with a form for applying leveling pressure to the sole of a shoe on a last, and means for engaging the work at its toe and heel ends :to support it againstsaid pressure, of additional means arranged to support the work in the region of the instep portion of the last and automatically movable into engagement with the work.

21. In a direct pressure leveling machine, the combination with a form for applying leveling pressure to the sole of a shoe on a last, and means for engaging the work at its toe and heel ends to support it against said pressure, ,of additional supporting means comprising members arranged to engage the opposite sides of the shoe in locations between its toe and heel end portions, said members being automatically movable toward each other to positions determined by the shoe.

22. In a direct pressure leveling machine, the combination with a form for applying leveling pressure to the sole of a shoe on a last, of means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure comprising members arranged to engage the shoe at its opposite portions, and automatic means for moving said members to positions determined by the shoe in the operation of the machine.

24. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with means for applyingpressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for engaging the work initially to sup: port it against said pressure, of additional means movable automatically into engagement with the work to support it against said pressure, and automatic means for locking said additional supporting means in support ing position. a

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for engaging the work initially to support it against said pressure, of additional means for supporting the work against said pressure comprising members arranged to engage the opposite sides of the shoe between its toe and heel end portions and movable to positions determined by the shoe, and automatic means for locking said members against movement in directions away from the shoe.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying sole shaping pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the toe and heel ends, of additional means for supporting the Y a last, of means for supporting the shoe and last against sald pressure comprlsmg members arranged to engage the opposite sides of the shoe between its toe and heel end portions and movable laterally of the shoe to supporting positions, and automatic means'for looking said members against separating movement.

28. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, and a shoe support tlepressible With the shoe in response to the application of said pressure, of members carried by the shoe support for supplementally engaging and supporting the shoe at its opposite sides, means operative in response to the depression of the shoe support to force said members against the shoe, and automatic means for locking said members against separating movement.

29. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a shoe against pressure on its bottom face comprising members movable laterally of the shoe into clamping and supporting engagement with its opposite sides, and a single pawl and ratchet device for locking said members in operative position.

30. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a shoe against pressure on its bottom face comprising members movable laterally of the shoe each independently of the other into clamping and supporting engagement with the opposite sides of the shoe, and a single locking device for locking both members against movement in directions away from the shoe.

31. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a shoe against pressure on'its bottom face comprising members movable laterally of the shoe into clamping and supporting relation to the opposite sides of the shoe, a shaft arranged to be rotated by movement of either of said members, and means for locking said shaft to hold the members against separating movement.

32. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a shoe against pressure on its bottom face comprising members movable laterally of the shoe into clamping and supporting relation to the opposite sides of the shoe, a shaft arranged to be rotated by movement of either of said members, a ratchet Wheel on said shaft, and a pawl for engaging said ratchet wheel to lock said members against separating movement.

Y In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a shoe against pressure on its bottom face comprising members arranged for clamping and supporting engagement with the opposite sides of the shoe, said members being relatively movable laterally of the shoe, a shaft arranged to be rotated automatic means for controlling said locking mechanism to release the members.

35. In a machme of the class described, the

combinationwith means for applying soleshaping pressure to the bottom of a shoe on a last, of means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure at the toe and heel ends, additional means for supporting the shoe and last against said pressure between its toe and heel end portions comprising members automatically movable laterally of the shoe to supporting positions, mechanism for locking said members against movement in directions away from the shoe, and automatic means for controlling said locking mechanism to release the members. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK BYCROFT KEALL. 

